Owen Kitzan – Sports Editor

As the school year finally comes to a wrap, I wanted to interview an athlete from the school to get insight on their thoughts and feelings about their time here. For the interview I went down a different path when choosing an athlete, opting to interview a club athlete instead of a varsity one. The reason for that being the role this player contributed to turning a program into national championship finalists from a beer league team when I first joined five years ago. It was my pleasure to get to ask the now-former Captain of the BU Club Hockey team the following questions about his time at BU.

What did being captain of a club sports team for multiple years mean to you?

“Being captain meant a lot more than wearing a letter. When you’re part of a club team, nothing is really given to you. Every season, every trip, every opportunity comes from the work you and your teammates put in behind the scenes. For me, it was about creating a culture that people wanted to be part of. Seeing the program grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at Bishop’s.”

Image courtesy of BU Hockey Club

You had a different role than most athletes, essentially acting as team manager as well. What was it like making sure the team could run on and off the ice?

“It was a unique challenge. Most athletes can focus purely on performance, but in our case, there was always another layer, logistics, budgeting, travel, communication, fundraising. At times it was demanding, but it also gave me a completely different perspective. You start to understand how much goes into creating opportunities for a team, not just participating in them. In a way, it made the success even more meaningful.”

What kind of impact did playing a sport at Bishop’s have on you?

“It shaped almost everything about my university experience. It gave me a community right away, but more importantly, it pushed me to grow as a leader and as a person. Balancing school, responsibilities with the team and everything else forced me to become more disciplined and intentional with my time. Beyond that, it showed me the impact a team can have beyond the sport itself, on campus culture and on the people within it. That’s something I’ll carry with me long after graduating.”

As a graduating senior, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to any athlete, club or varsity?

“Don’t take the experience for granted, but also don’t just go through it. Be intentional about what you’re building with your teammates. The wins and losses matter, but what stays with you is the culture you create, the relationships and the moments in between. And if you’re in a position to lead, step into it fully. The impact you can have on a program and on people is a lot bigger than you think.”